Dynamic power control for reduced voltage level of graphics controller component of memory controller based on its degree of idleness

ABSTRACT

A method includes detecting a trigger condition, and in response to detecting the trigger condition, reducing a voltage applied to a graphics controller component of a memory controller. The reduction in voltage may cause the voltage to be reduced below a voltage level required to maintain context information in the graphics controller component.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/747,392filed May 11, 2007, which is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/024,065,filed Dec. 28, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,253), the contents of bothapplications being hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Computer systems are pervasive in industrialized societies, and includeeverything from small handheld electronic devices, such as personal dataassistants and cellular telephones, to application-specific electronicdevices, such as set-top boxes, digital cameras, and other consumerelectronics, to medium-sized mobile systems such as notebook,sub-notebook and tablet computers, to desktop systems, workstations andservers.

In recent years there have been many advances in semiconductortechnology that have resulted in the development of improved electronicdevices having integrated circuits (ICs) operating at higher frequenciesand supporting additional and/or enhanced features. While these advanceshave enabled hardware manufacturers to design and build faster and moresophisticated computer systems, the advances have also tended to bringthe disadvantage of higher power consumption, particularly forbattery-powered computer systems.

A number of techniques are known for reducing the power consumption incomputer systems. For example, the Advanced Configuration and PowerInterface (ACPI) Specification (Rev. 2.0c, Aug. 25, 2003) sets forthinformation about how to reduce the dynamic power consumption ofportable and other computer systems. With respect to processors used incomputer systems, four processor power consumption modes (C0, C1, C2 andC3) are defined in the ACPI Specification. For example, when a processoris executing instructions, it is in the C0 mode. The C0 mode is a highpower consumption mode. When the processor is not executinginstructions, it may be placed in one of the low power consumption modesC1, C2 or C3. An operating system (OS) in the computer system maydynamically transition the idle processor into the appropriate low powerconsumption mode.

The C1 power mode is the processor power-saving mode with the lowestlatency. The C2 power mode offers improved power savings over the C1power mode. In the C2 power mode, the processor is still able tomaintain the context of the system caches. The C3 power mode offersstill lower power consumption compared to the C1 and C2 power modes, buthas higher exit latency than the C2 and C1 power modes.

While the reduced power consumption modes defined by the ACPISpecification and known techniques have many advantages, there is acontinuing need to further reduce power consumption of computer systems.That need has been heightened by the migration of IC technology tosub-micron line widths, which has resulted in increasing possibilitiesfor current leakage in ICs even during idle conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is block diagram of a computer system provided according to someembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram of a memory controller chipset thatis part of the computer system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a process performed by thememory controller of FIG. 2 in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system 100 provided according tosome embodiments. The computer system 100 includes a processor 102 thatmay comprise the CPU (central processing unit) for the computer system100. The processor 102 may be, for example, a microprocessor of a typeconventionally employed in mobile computer systems such as notebookcomputers.

The computer system 100 further includes a memory controller chipset 104that is coupled to the processor 102 to exchange data with the processor102. The memory controller is coupled to one or more memory devices 106and may control exchanging of data between the processor 102 and thememory device 106 in accordance with conventional practices. The memorycontroller also has integrated therein graphics controller circuitrywhich controls displaying of information on a display device (not shown)that is part of the computer system 100. The memory devices 106 are partof the computer system 100 and may be at least partly constituted, forexample, by conventional double data rate random access memory (DDRRAM). The memory devices 106 may be referred to as a “graphics memoryunit”.

The computer system 100 also includes an input/output (I/O) interface108 which the memory controller 104 couples to the processor 102.Exchanges of data between the processor and other system components (notshown) such as disk drives, communication ports and/or input/outputdevices may be handled via the memory controller 104 and the I/Ointerface 108.

In addition, the computer system 100 includes a voltage regulator module(VRM) 110. The VRM 110 is coupled to the memory controller 104 andreceives from the memory controller 104 a data signal such as a voltageidentification (“VID”) signal. In response to the VID signal, the VRM110 supplies power to the memory controller and/or to portions of thememory controller at a voltage level that complies with the value of theVID signal. Thus the memory controller 104 controls the voltage level ofat least one power signal supplied to the memory controller 104 by theVRM 110. (Although not shown in the drawing, the computer system 100 mayinclude one or more additional VRMs to provide regulated power to othersystem components such as the processor 102. The other VRMs may, forexample, be controlled by an additional VID signal or signals output bythe processor 102 or another system component.)

The computer system 100 may also include one or more clock generationcircuits (not shown) which provide one or more clock signals tocomponents of the computer system 100 such as the processor 102, thememory controller 104 and the memory devices 106.

FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram of memory controller 104. Thememory controller 104 includes a memory interface component 202 whichprovides the interface between the processor 102 (FIG. 1) or any othercomponent to the memory devices 106. The memory controller 104 alsoincludes a graphics controller component 204 which controls displayingof information on a display unit (not shown) of the computer system 100.In addition, the memory controller 104 includes a power managementcontroller 206 which may provide power management functions for thememory controller 104 in accordance with some embodiments.

The memory controller 104 may also include other components, which maybe provided in accordance with conventional practices, such as a CPUcontroller 208, a memory control unit 210, an input/output controller212, a display interface 214 and an input/output interface 216.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a process in accordance withsome embodiments performed, at least in part, by the power managementcontroller 206 of the memory controller 104.

Block 302 in FIG. 3 represents normal operation of the graphicscontroller component 204. For example, during normal operation thegraphics controller component 204 may be performing operations inresponse to commands received from the processor 102. Also during normaloperations, the VRM 110 may be supplying power to the graphicscontroller component 204 that is either at a suitable voltage level formaintaining full operations, or at least is at a voltage level that ishigh enough to allow the graphics controller component to maintain itscontext information.

At times during normal operation 302 (e.g., at regular time intervals)the power management controller 206 determines (as indicated by decisionblock 304) whether it has detected a “trigger condition”. By “triggercondition” is meant one or more conditions and/or events which aresuitable to trigger entry into a special low voltage power mode for thegraphics controller component 204. For example, in some embodiments, atrigger condition may be a degree of idleness of the graphics controllercomponent 204. For example, the degree of idleness of the graphicscontroller component 204 may be a condition of having been idle for morethan a predetermined consecutive period of time (e.g., more than 200microseconds). Thus the degree of idleness may be a predeterminedduration of a period of idleness. As another example, the degree ofidleness may be a condition of having been idle for a certainpredetermined percentage or greater of time during a predeterminedperiod of time. For example, the degree of idleness required to triggerthe special low voltage power mode may be idleness during at least 80%of a given 100 microsecond period (e.g., in a moving window of 100microseconds). Thus the degree of idleness required for a trigger eventmay be a proportion of time in an idle condition relative to a certain(previous) time period.

In other embodiments, the trigger condition may be a determination thatthe processor 102 has entered or is entering a process according towhich the voltage supplied to the processor 102 is to be reduced and/orthe processor is not requiring graphics processing. A command indicatingsuch a process may be provided to the memory controller, and detectionof such a command may be detection of a trigger event which launches asubstantial voltage reduction for the graphics controller component ofthe memory controller.

In some embodiments, there may two or more different trigger conditions,the detection of any one of which may cause the power managementcontroller 206 to initiate a substantial voltage reduction for thegraphics controller component 204. In some embodiments, two or moredifferent trigger conditions may need to be detected for the powermanagement controller 206 to initiate the voltage reduction for thegraphics controller component 204.

If a positive determination is made at 304 (i.e., if a trigger conditionor a required combination of triggers conditions is detected), then thepower management controller 206 causes (as indicated at 306) the contextinformation in the graphics controller component to be stored in anexternal memory such as the memory device(s) 106 or other low power datastorage device (which may be internal to the memory controller 104 insome embodiments). (By external memory is meant any memory device thatis not part of the memory controller 104; the term “external memory” mayinclude a memory device that is coupled to the memory controller 104.)As is familiar to those who are skilled in the art, the contextinformation may have been stored in the graphics controller component204 as internal states of registers and/or SRAM (static random accessmemory) that is included on the IC die (not separately shown) on whichthe graphics controller component 204 is formed. The context informationmay, for example, include information concerning one or more states ofthe graphics controller component 204 and/or information concerning acurrent configuration of display and/or graphics hardware (not shown)that is being controlled by the graphics controller component 204. Insome embodiments, the bandwidth to the memory device(s) 106 from thememory controller 104 may be quite high so that the storing of thecontext information in the memory device(s) 106 may be performed quiterapidly. In some embodiments, a command or instruction to store thecontext information in this situation may be the same as a command orinstruction conventionally employed to store context information inexternal memory as part of a context switching operation.

Next, at 308, the clock signal normally supplied to the graphicscontroller component 204 is gated off (disabled). Then, as indicated at310, the power management controller 206 sends an updated VID signal tothe VRM 110, or otherwise controls the VRM 110, so that the VRM 110reduces the voltage level of the power supplied by the VRM 110 to thegraphics controller component 204. The reduction of the voltage level at310 may be such that the level of the voltage applied to the graphicscontroller component 204 is reduced below a voltage level that isrequired by the graphics controller component 204 to internally maintainthe context information. In some embodiments, a normal operating voltagelevel may be about 1.0 V, and an approximate minimum voltage levelrequired to internally maintain context information in the graphicscontroller component 204 may be about 0.7 V. The reduction in voltage at310 may be to a level of 0.6 V or below.

The condition in which a reduced voltage is applied to the graphicscontroller component 204 of the memory controller 104 may persist for anindefinite period of time until it becomes necessary for the graphicscontroller component to “wake up”. At a decision block 312 it isdetermined whether a command to be executed by the graphics controllercomponent has been issued. (For example, such a command may be issued bythe processor 102.) If a positive determination is made at 312 (i.e., ifissuance of a command for the graphics controller component 204 isdetected), then (as indicated at 314) the power management controller206 updates the VID signal to the VRM 110, or otherwise controls the VRM110, to increase the voltage applied by the VRM 110 to the graphicscontroller component 204. The increase in voltage may raise the appliedvoltage to a level which supports full operation of the graphicscontroller component 204.

Next, at 316, the power management controller 206 may ungate (re-enable)the clock signal for the graphics controller component 204. Then, at318, the context information that was stored in the external memory at306 may be fetched from external memory (e.g., memory device(s) 106) andtransferred back to the graphics controller component 204 so that thecontext information is once again present in the graphics controllercomponent 204. Normal operation 302 of the graphics controller component204 may then resume (e.g. with execution of the command detected at 312)and may continue until another idle period and/or reduction in voltageis implemented for the graphics controller component 204.

The process described above is not meant to imply a fixed order ofprocess stages, and the process may be performed in any order that ispracticable. For example, in some embodiments, the clock signals for thegraphics controller component 204 may be re-enabled before the voltageis increased.

With the process described above in connection with FIG. 3, the voltageapplied to the graphics controller component 204 of the memorycontroller 104 may be reduced to very low levels on occasions when thereduction in voltage is unlikely to significantly disrupt operation ofthe computer system 100. The reduction in voltage may reduce currentleakage in the graphic controller component 204 and may otherwise reduceaverage power consumption in the memory controller. This may beparticularly advantageous in a mobile computer system, since thereduction in average power consumption may enhance the battery life ofthe mobile computer system.

As used in the appended claims, reducing (increasing) a voltage mayinclude sending a signal to a VRM to cause the VRM to reduce (increase)the voltage level of a power signal output by the VRM. It should beunderstood that increasing a voltage may include increasing a voltagelevel from zero (i.e., turning on or re-enabling a voltage).

In some embodiments, during some idle periods of the graphics controllercomponent 204 the voltage applied to the graphics controller component204 may be reduced from the normal operating level (e.g., 1.0 V), oractive stand-by voltage or turbo-mode voltage, to a reduced level (e.g.,0.8 V), i.e. a passive stand-by voltage that is still adequate tomaintain the context information in the graphics controller component.

In some embodiments, the VR function may be integrated with the memorycontroller rather than being provided in a separate module.

In some embodiments, the power management controller 206 may controlvoltage to itself and may include a state machine that is operable at areduced voltage to detect wake-up conditions.

In embodiments described above, the graphics controller component of thememory controller is caused to wake up from the reduced voltage stateupon detection of a command to be executed by the graphics controllercomponent. In addition or alternatively, the graphics controllercomponent may be caused to wake up upon detecting that the processor 102has initiated a memory mapped input/output (mmio) write operation tographics registers (not separately shown).

The several embodiments described herein are solely for the purpose ofillustration. The various features described herein need not all be usedtogether, and any one or more of those features may be incorporated in asingle embodiment. Therefore, persons skilled in the art will recognizefrom this description that other embodiments may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations.

1. A method comprising: detecting a degree of idleness of a graphicscontroller component as a proportion of time in an idle conditionrelative to a previous time period; in response to said detecting,reducing a voltage applied to the graphics controller component of amemory controller by at least 20%.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: prior to said reducing and in response to said detecting,storing context information in an external memory.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising: prior to said reducing and after saidstoring, disabling clock signals for said graphics controller component.4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: after said reducing,detecting issuance of a command for said graphics controller component;and in response to detecting issuance of the command, increasing thevoltage applied to the graphics controller component, said increasingcausing the voltage to be increased to a voltage level required tosupport full operation of the graphics controller component.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, further comprising: after said increasing, enablingthe clock signals for said graphics controller component.
 6. The methodof claim 5, further comprising: after said enabling, transferring saidcontext information from said external memory to said graphicscontroller component.
 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:enabling the clock signals for said graphics controller component afterdetecting issuance of said command and prior to said increasing.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said degree of idleness is a duration of aperiod of idleness.
 9. An apparatus comprising a memory controller, thememory controller including a graphics controller component, and thememory controller also including a power management controller forcontrolling a supply of power for at least a portion of the memorycontroller, the power management controller operative to: detect adegree of idleness of the graphics controller component as a proportionof time in an idle condition relative to a previous time period; inresponse to said detecting, reduce a voltage applied to the graphicscontroller component of the memory controller by at least 20%.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein said power management controller isfurther operative to: prior to said reduction and in response to saiddetecting, store context information in an external memory.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein said power management controller isfurther operative to: prior to said reduction and after said storing,disable clock signals for said graphics controller component.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein said power management controller isfurther operative to: after said reduction, detect issuance of a commandfor said graphics controller component; and in response to detectingissuance of the command, increase the voltage applied to the graphicscontroller component, said increase causing the voltage to be increasedto a voltage level required to support full operation of the graphicscontroller component.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said powermanagement controller is further operative to: after said increase,enable the clock signals for said graphics controller component.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein said power management controller isfurther operative to: after said enabling, transfer said contextinformation from said external memory to said graphics controllercomponent.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said power managementcontroller is further operative to: enable the clock signals for saidgraphics controller component after detecting issuance of said commandand prior to said increasing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein saiddegree of idleness is a duration of a period of idleness.
 17. A systemcomprising: a memory controller; and a graphics memory unit incommunication with the memory controller; wherein the memory controllerincludes a graphics controller component, and the memory controller alsoincludes a power management controller for controlling a supply of powerfor at least a portion of the memory controller, the power managementcontroller operative to: detect a degree of idleness of the graphicscontroller component as a proportion of time in an idle conditionrelative to a previous time period; in response to said detecting,reduce a voltage applied to the graphics controller component of thememory controller by at least 20%.
 18. The system of claim 17, whereinsaid power management controller of the memory controller is furtheroperative to: prior to said reduction and in response to said detecting,store context information in said graphics memory unit.
 19. The systemof claim 18, wherein said power management controller of the memorycontroller is further operative to: prior to said reduction and aftersaid storing, disable clock signals for said graphics controllercomponent.